Pocket-plug for pool-tables.



PATENTED' AUG. 9, 1904.

- G. McGEE.

POCKET PLUG FOR POOL TABLES.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 27, 1902.

HO MODEL.

C J gffameys UNITED STATES Patented August 9, 1904.

PATENT Darren.

GEORGE MoGEE, OF MADISON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO HENRY G.POLLOOK, OF MADISON, INDIANA.

POCKET-PLUG FOR POOL-TABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,309, dated August9, 1904,

Application filed December 27, 1902. Serial No.136,834.-. (N0 model.)

To all whom, it puny concern.-

Be it known thatLGEoRen MoGnn, of Madison, in the county of Jeffersonand State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Pocket Plugs for Pool- Tables, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in pocket-plugs for pool-tables forconverting the latter into billiard-tables, principally for use inprivate houses. Prior devices of this character have often provedobjectionable by reason of their limited range of application, thisbeing due to the fact that as usually constructed each plug is fitted toa certain pocket and only capable of application to that particular one,the pockets frequently varying in size, although only slightly.Furthermore, it has been found that when applied to the pockets and itis desired to restore the table to its original form as a pool-table ithas been extremely difficult to remove the plugs from the variouspockets.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a pocketplug which is so constructed as to be universally applicable, wherebythe same is adapted for use in pockets in any of the standardpool-tables, thereby rendering it unnecessary to construct each plugwith especial reference to a particular pocket and also to so constructthe plug as to permit the same being readily removed from any pocket towhich it is applied when it is desired to reconvert the table to itsoriginal form as a pool-table.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of apocket-plug in which is embodied simple and efficient means formaintaining the same in proper position when applied to a pocket andwhich means are so constructed as to cause the plug to becomeimmediately engaged with the walls of the pocket when the plug isinserted tlierein.

lVith these general objects in view and others which will appear as thenature of the improvements is better understood the invention consistssubstantially in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts, as will be hereinafter fully described,

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a corner of'apool-table having the herein-described plug applied thereto. Fig. 2 is asimilar view, on an enlarged scale, of the plug removed. Fig. 3 is a topplan view of the plug, the covering being removed therefrom. Fig. 4 is aside elevation thereof. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the plug, thecovering being also removed in this view to more clearly show the meansfor connecting the members of the plug. 4

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the body of theherein-described plug entirely enveloped by a covering 1, of clothsimilar to and matching the cloth usually employed for covering billiardand pool tables, and said body is formed of a pair of angular members 2,the rear ends of which are substantially semicircular in form, as at 3,to provide a substantially semicircular head or end portion for theplug.

It will be noted that the forward end of each of the members 2 is cut atan angle, as at 4, in order that when the members are assembled togethersaid ends will be divergent, and thereby form a right angle when theplug is inserted in a pocket, as will presently appear more fully. Theforward end of each of the members 2 is also beveled, as at 5, wherebysaid ends are shaped to conform to the inclination of the cushion-railof the table, and mounted upon the upper edge of the forward end of eachof the members 2 is a cushion 6, which may be of any approvedconstruction and secured in the usual manner. These cushions 6 areadapted to receive the impact of the balls and form prolongations of thecushions of the table which extend into the pockets, and therebypreserve the continuity of said cushions, as is characteristic of acomplete billiard-table.

It is obvious that the members 2 should be suitably connected in orderto form the complete body portion ofthe plug, and to this end a spring 7is suitably secured to the rear ends of the members 2, as by screws 8,if desired, and said spring is preferably arranged to extend over theentire rounded portions of the members 2. By reason of this connectionit will be seen that the normal tendency of the spring 7 is to force themembers 2 apart, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3, by reason of whichaction said. members are caused to tightly engage the contiguous end.portions of the rails of the table and tightly maintain the plug inapplied position when inserted in a pocket. in this connection it willalso be observed that the outer sides of the members 2 are slightlyinclined or beveled, as at 8, the purpose of this being to cause theplug to lit more effectually the contiguous portions of the rails of thetable.

In order to limit the spreading of the members 2 under the influence ofthe spring 7, a \velt 9 is connected to the beveled forward ends of saidmembers, and this welt also performs the function of a finger-loop,which maybe engaged when it is desired to remove the plug from a pocket.It will be noted, however, that this welt is applied at such point uponthe members 2 as to prevent contact by the balls, thereby leaving thecushions upon the members entirely exposed for such contact.

The upper edges of the rear ends of the members 2 are provided withgrooves 10, and said grooves are designed to receive the usualpocket-iron when the plug is inserted in a pocket. This provides for afirm support of the rear end of the plug; butin order that the same maybe reinforced and the plug effectually maintained in its appliedposition an engaging linger 11, preferably formed of metal, is attachedto the forward beveled end of each of the members 2, a screw 12 beingpreferably employed for this purpose, and said engaging lingers projectbeyond the sides of the members 2 and are adapted to engage or takeunder the cushion-rails at the sides and ends of the table. Thus it willbe seen that the plug is effectually held in a pocket when insertedtherein, and at the same time the engaging fingers 11 are sufficientlyremoved from the cushions as to prevent contact by the balls.

in applying the herein-described plug it is only necessary to insert thesame in a pocket, when the members 2, under the influence of the spring7, will be expanded into engagement with the contiguous portions of therails of the table, and at the same time the grooves 10 will receive thepocket-iron and the engaging iingers 11 will take under thecushionrails, so as to hold the plug within the pocket. \Vhen it isdesired to reconvert the table into its original form as a pool-table,it is only necessary to grasp the welt 9, and by apply ing pressurethereto the members 2 will be drawn toward each other, thus releasingthe same from engagement with the rails of the table, and the plug maythen be readily removed. The welt 9 is of especial value for thispurpose inasmuch as the same enables the plug to. be removed from apocket by ladies, and at the same time said welt, as before stated,limits the separation of the members 2.

\Vhile the form of the invention herein shown and described is what isbelieved to be a preferable embodiment thereof, it Will of course beunderstood that the same is susceptible of various changes in the form,proportion, and minor details of construction, and the right istherefore reserved to modify or vary the invention as falls Within thespirit and scope thereof. The invention is equally as well adapted foruse with side pockets as with corner-pockets, but slight change in theconstruction of the members 2 being necessary for this purpose.

Having thus described the invention, what claimed as new, and desired tobe secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. Aplug of the class described, comprising a plurality of membersarranged in proximity to each other, and means for connecting saidmembers together, said members being normally expanded under theinfluence of said connecting means.

2. A plug of the class described, comprising a plurality of membersarranged in proximity to each other, means for connecting said memberstogether, said members being normally expanded under the influence ofsaid connecting means, and means for limiting the expansion of saidmembers.

3. A plug of the class described, comprising a plurality of membersarranged in proximity to each other, and a spring for connecting saidmembers together, said members being normally expanded under theinfluence of said connecting means.

f. A plug of the class described, comprising a plurality of membersarranged in proximity to each other, a spring for connecting saidmembers together, said members being normally expanded under theinfluence of said connecting means, and means for limiting the expansionof said members.

5. A plugof the class described, comprising a plurality of membersarranged in proximity to eachother, a spring for connecting said memberstogether, said members being norin ally expanded under the influence ofsaid. connecting means, and. a welt connected to said members forlimiting the expansion thereof.

6. A plug of the class described, comprising a plurality of membersarranged in proximity to each other, means for connecting said memberstogether, said members being normally expanded under the influence ofsaid connecting means, and means also carried by said members andadapted to engage the contiguous portions of the rails of a table whenthe plug is applied thereto.

7. A plug of the class described, comprising a plurality of membersarranged in proximity to each other, means for connecting said memberstogether, said members being normally expanded under the influence ofsaid connecting means, and engaging fingers also carried by said membersand adapted to engage the contiguous portions of the rails of a tablewhen the plug is applied thereto.

8. A plug of the class described, comprising a plurality of membersarranged in proximity to each other, means for connecting said memberstogether, said members being normally expanded under the influence ofsaid connecting means, means for limiting the expansion of said members,and means carried by said members for engaging the contiguous portionsof the rails of a table when the plug is applied thereto.

9. A plug of the class described, comprising a plurality of membersarranged in proximity to each other, a spring connecting said memberstogether, said members being normally expanded under the influence ofsaid spring, means for limiting the expansion of said members, and meansfor engaging the contiguous portions of the rails of a table when theplug is applied thereto.

10. A plug of the class described, comprising a plurality or membersarranged in proximity to each other, said members being provided withgrooves for the reception of a pocket-iron, means for connecting saidmembers together, and means for limiting the expansion of said members.

11. A plug of the class described, comprising a plurality of membersarranged in proximity to each other, a cushion carried by each of saidmembers, and resilient means for connecting said members together.

12. A plug of the class described, comprisinga plurality of membersarranged in proximity to each other, a cushion carried by each of saidmembers, and means for connecting said members together, said membersbeing normally expanded under the influence of said connecting means.

'13. A plug of the class described, comprising a plurality of membersarranged in proximity to each other, a cushion carried by each of saidmembers, means for connecting said members together, said members beingnormally expanded under the influence of said connecting means, andmeans for limiting the expansion of said members.

14. A plug of the class described, comprising a plurality of membersarranged in proximity to each other, cushions carried by said members,means for connecting said members together, said members being normallyexpanded under the influence of said connecting means, means forlimiting the expansion of said members, and means carried by saidmembers for engaging the rails of a table when the plug is appliedthereto.

GEORGE MOGEE. Witnesses:

W. M. WHITSITT, GEO. W. GOFIELD.

